Background
Orkney Islands Council has a vibrant cultural sector, including thriving crafts, performing arts, festivals, and museum initiatives. Dr Emma Gee, as the Arts Officer, plays a pivotal role in connecting and supporting these creative communities, facilitating project funding, collaborations, and promoting cultural engagement.
Challenge
Despite a rich cultural environment, Orkney Islands Council faced significant challenges demonstrating the tangible value of its cultural investments. Dr Gee explains, “Funding is always challenging, particularly for cultural projects seen as less essential compared to other public services like health or infrastructure.” The council needed robust evidence to clearly articulate the benefits and impacts of ongoing cultural investment.
Solution
To address this challenge, the council adopted the Social Value Engine. Dr Gee reflects, “A colleague in the Economic Development team introduced me to it. She was already using it effectively within her projects.” With guidance from Ivan and the Social Value Engine team, Dr Gee customised the tool specifically to align with Orkney Council’s unique values and strategic priorities. “Ivan created a bespoke framework using our council’s values and priorities, enhancing its relevance significantly,” she added. This tailored approach enabled the council to effectively quantify and communicate the social impacts of cultural funding, integrating both qualitative narratives and quantitative data.
Impact
The implementation of the Social Value Engine has had profound positive effects. Dr Gee notes, “The engine allows us to use collected data meaningfully, translating qualitative and quantitative impacts into clear social value metrics.” It provided the council with clear, compelling data, demonstrating substantial returns on modest cultural investments. She further highlights the impact: “Last summer, combining narrative with statistical data significantly strengthened our case for continued cultural funding, gaining approval even from those less familiar with cultural services.” The approach significantly enhanced transparency, accountability, and strategic alignment of cultural funding with the council’s broader objectives.
Notably, the successful integration of the Social Value Engine has also fostered innovative cultural initiatives such as school-based museum curatorships and community-driven art exhibitions, contributing to Orkney’s robust community engagement and educational development.
Conclusion
The Social Value Engine has become a crucial tool for Orkney Islands Council, empowering it to effectively communicate the value of cultural investment. By providing a clear, evidence-based narrative, the council can maintain and potentially expand its cultural initiatives, ensuring these vital projects continue enriching the community’s quality of life and fostering long-term social benefits. Dr Gee concludes, “The Social Value Engine perfectly meets our needs; it’s now central to our reporting and has been warmly received by our councillors.“
